Booster pump



March 6, 4 J. A. COMPTON A 2,370,778

BOOSTER PUMP Filed ma 24, I943 fizvenr fl' xfgmes (2'. Cam}; 507a municatlon with the pump.

Patented Mar. 6, .945

James A. Compton, South Euclid, om, assignmto, Pesco Prodpcts 00., a corporation of,0hlo

Application May24, 1943, Serial No. 4 3,122

l Claims.

This invention. relates to centrifugal. booster pumps and particularly'to pumps of this class adapted for. location in communication with a body ofrelatively volatile liquid necessitating the incorporation of means for eilectinga separation of vapor from the liquid being pumped;

It is an object bf this invention to provide'an improved arrangement for effecting and. maintaining a more complete separ'ati n of vapor from the liquid being pumped.

It is a more specific object to provide in 'mbination with a pump of the above type including means for separating the vapor from'the liquid,

means for introducing the liquid in a separate independent path from the means for returning rangement is believed to represent a marked improvement over anything that has been known heretofore, particularly as regards the clear-cut manner in whichthe vapor separation is accomplished and the separated vapor is prevented from again entering the inlet liquid stream.

The booster pump proper indicated generally at l6 andwith which my improved liquid guide and. vapor separating assembly has particular apthe separated vapor to the body of liquid income Other and more particular and uses of my invention-will become apparent from a reading of the specification taken'in com nection with the appended drawing wherein:

'- Fig.1 is a schematic view bringing out to adobjects, advanta s vantage the preferred relationship of my 'improvedconstruction as part of an aircraft booster pump for vmoving volatile liquid fuel from the tank to the main fuel pump;

Fig. 2 is an axial broken away section View taken substantially on 2-2 offFlg. a bringing out-to advant ge one detailed relationa ship of structure forminga preferred embodiment of my invention: and

3' is a -brokenaway'plan view talren substantially on theline 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring in greater. detail'to ithe figures 0 the drawing, I have indicated schematically in Fig. 1 arr-installation onan'aircraft incorporating 2'! a satisfactory vapor; separation urrdr normal cirs cumstances. Howevenjt has'beei'i found by ex perience that separatic'm of this-vapo i- ;.fr om .the liquid is not alone sufllcient since if-relea'se'd in v themanner heretofore practiced, thesamefa'gain v finds its'way back into the inlet liquid. stream and is recirculated to the pump, thuslowering- -the eflectiveness .of" such vapor separation, y Thereforejhave'provided,incombinationwith this impeller and beater assembly, an improved 1 "arrangement for directing the incoming Qliquid an improved booster pump assemblyjorming a preferred embodiment of my invention; A plane indicated generally at. "I may include'the usual motor-driven main fuel pump l2, -theinlet pres-.

sure to which is adapted to be maintained above a predetermined value by means of-my improved centrifugal booster pumpassemblyindicated generally at l4 and mounted in communication'with the fuel tank carried in the wing of theplane.

In view of the volatile 'charact'er'of'the fuel re quired for aircraft and particularly where high 1] altitude flight is contemplated, it has become necessary to provide. for the separation .of the dissolvedair and incipient vapor from'the liquid 50 f uel introducedto the booster fuel pump before thesame hasthe pressure. thereof raised for transfer to the'main fuel pump. Other proposals have been made heretoforeforeflecting the separation of this vapor: however, the present ar- 9 "extending wall'.44,spacedradially' outwardly fron the periphery of the large termilial'portio'n 36 of the'converging throat 32 and arranged to be i plicatiohimay include'a housing I8 formed with andmpeller chamberlli receiving a centrifugal.

impeller .22," having vanes 24 thereon adapted to receive li'quidcentrally thereof, and raise the pressure of said liquid, discharging the-same to J5;

a surrounding scroll or volute chamber lit for discharge through pumpoutlet 28. The pump" may be driven by'anelectric motor 30., A funnell'ike-conyerginginlet-throat 132 has a reduced ter-' minal 34 delivering tojimpellr wanes'fl'and an -tion'toth'eiinlet throat 36. This'impeller and propeller like beaterjassembly functions in con-,

junction with the converging throat 32 't o effect and the separated vapor in independent paths, including a liquid guide indicated generally at4li.

An annular chamber 42 is defined'bya coaxially fastened to the pump housing by means of cap deflningguide 49, having an enlarged inlet ter-' minal to, anda converged outlet terminal 52; smaller in diameterthan the overall diameter of Q the beater andeffective to direct liquidradialiy' inwardlythereof. The :jvall portions 44, 48, as well as the inlet throat 49 ar'e preferably-formed of sheet metal, thus providing a. relatively thin cross-section. .The outer peripheral wall portion 54. adjacent converged terminal=52 of inlet guide outer enlarged inlet terminal-idihavin ga-propeller-llkevapor beater 3B, mount'edr-ihcoaxfalrelainlet guide and vapor out-let.

.- screws 46} the head portions of which engage a l transverse wall"; This transverse wall 48 is formed centrally with a converging. funnel-like 49, functions to define, with the opposed enlarged inlet 36 of converging throat 32, an inlet opening to annular vapor receiving chamber 42.

It will be noted that since the diameter of inlet guide terminal 52 is smaller than that of inlet' axial direction for directing the separated vapor upwardly from annular chamber 42 and discharging the same into the surrounding body of liquid at a selectedelevation. Positioned within the confines of these tubular conduits is a screen 60 made in the form of a complete circle and functioning as will be seen, to screen the incoming liquid to converging guide 49. For the very important purpose'oi' assuring the complete separation of the stream of incoming liquid from the returning vapor, partition 62: is mounted about the outer extremities of the tubular vapor conduits 58. This partition or plate-like baille is likeaavogve guide having-an inlet terminal-located at a first elevation, means defining a separate vapor return guide adjacent said vapor heater effective to direct said separated vapor to a second elevation above said first elevation, to thus prevent said separated vapor from reentering theliquid stream being introduced at said first elevation.

2. In combination with a centrifugal booster pump, including a centrifugal impeller chamber having a centrifugal impeller therein and a vapor heater in advance 'of said impeller for facilitating the separation of vapor from incoming liquid, means defining an annular chamber surrounding and in colnmunication with the radial extremities of said beaten-means defining a liquid inlet path for placing said pump in communication with a body of liquid, said path defining means including an inlet terminal located at a first elevation, a first converging funnel-shaped inlet guide, the converged terminalofsaid guide having a diameter smaller thanthe overall diameter of said beater and functioning to direct incoming liquid to the radial inner portion of said beater, the outer periphery of said co verged funnel-shaped terminal serving to partia y form a said annular chamber and to facilitate the inwise preferably made of sheet metal and includes an upstanding axially extending wall portion GI and a plurality of ports 66 cooperating with the upper terminals of tubule vapor conduits 58. Mounted over the open ter 64 is a second screen 63 having a similar function i to that of screen 60, These elements of the liquid inlet guide and vapor return assembly 40 may be fastened togetheras by spot welding.

From the above it will be apparent that the troduction of separated vapor to said annular chamber, a second converging funnel-like liquid nal' portion. of wall and vapor guide interposed between said beater and said impeller the larger terminal .portion thereof being adjacent the radial extremities of -said beater and having a diameter greater than .inlet liquid stream indicated by arrows passes radiall inwardly under partition 62 and through screen 60 into communication with centrally converging inlet guide 49 and thence into communication with the radially inward portion of propeller-like beater 38. Similarly the vapor that is separated by the impeller M, converging throat 32 and beater 38 passes radially outwardly along the tips of the beater and upwardly through the inlet opening into annular chamber. 42 defined by inlet terminal 36 and outlet terminal 52. From annular chamber l2 the vapor is directedv vertically upwardly through tubular guides 58 to an elevation higher than that of the inlet terminal to the liquid guide assembly, namely that defined by the'under side of the partition or plate-like baille 82 and converging throat 49.

I have shown the axially extending vapor directing conduits 58 as being elliptical like in shape and including a plurality of conduits and prefer this arrangement in the'more specific as- 'pect of my invention; however, I'contemplate other equivalent arrangements. These might include circular or other shaped conduits, as well as a large or small number of conduits.

, tion with certain specific embodiments thereof,

that of said converging terminal of said first funnel -like guide, whereby to further facilitate the introduction of separated vapor into said annular chamber, means defining a separate va-' por return path from said annular chamber to said body of liquid, including a conduit having a first terminal portion in communication with said annular chamber and ,a second outlet terminal portion disposedat an elevation above said first elevation whereby to release said vapor into said body of liquid at a position where the same will not reenter the inlet liquid stream. 3. In a centrifugal booster pump assembly, including'means defining a housinghaving an impe1ler chamber therein, a centrifugal impeller received in said chamber, a funnel-like converging inlet throat leading axially to said impeller, a vaporbeater disposed in advance of said im-' peller and located in generally opposed relation to the largeinlet terminal portion of said funnelshaped throat, the combination therewith of means facilitating the initial vapor separation and maintaining said separation including means defining aliquid inlet path to said throat, said path defining means including an inlet terminal located at a'first elevation, means defining a this is to be taken by way of example, it being intended that my invention be defined by the appended claims. a I claim:

1. In combination with a centrifugal booster pump, including a centrifugal impeller and a vapor beater located ahead of said impeller effective to separate vapor from incoming relatively volatile liquid before said liquid reaches said imvapor return path including an annular chamber surrounding and. having an inlet openingln communication with the radial extremities of said vapor beater, and means defining a conduit having the inlet terminal thereof in communication with said annular chamber and having an outlet terminal disposed at a second elevation above said first elevation for releasing said sepj a'rated vapor into-communication with said body of fuel at a position where the same will not tend to reenter the said pump.

4. Ina centrifugal booster pump assembly, in-

eluding means defining a housing having an impeller, of means defining a liquid inlet guide 4 adapted to place said pump in communication with a body of relatively volatile liquid, said peller chamber therein, afcentrifugal impeller received in said chamber, a funnel-lik'e'converg- I ing inlet throat leading axially to said impeller,

stream of liquid being directed to i a propeller-like vapor beater disposed in advance or said impeller and located in generally opposed relation to the large. inlet terminal portion of said funnelshaped throat the combination therewith of means facilitating the necessary' vapor separation and maintaining said separation including means defining a liquid inletpath to said throat, said path deflning'means comprising an inlet terminal located at a first ele-' vation, means defining a vapor return path including an annular chamber surrounding and having an inlet opening in communication with the radial extremities of said vapor beater, means defining a conduit having the inlet terminal thereof in communication with said annular chamber and having an outlet terminal disposed at a second elevation above said first elevation for releasing said separated vapor into communication with said body of fuel at a position where the same will not tend to reenter the-stream of liquid being directed to said pump and a platerelation to the large inlet terminal portion of said funnel-shaped throat, ;the combination therewith of means facilitating the necessary vapor separation and maintaining said separaof liquid being directed to said pump, a partition separating said liquid inlet and said vapor outlet, and m ans defining a screen cooperating with said liquid inlet and means defining a screen cooperating with said vapor conduit outlet.

6. In a centrifugal booster pump, including a centrifugal impeller and a vapor beater mounted on and located ahead of said impeller for rotation therewith effective to cause the separation of vapor from incoming relatively volatile liquid before said liquid reaches said impeller; means defining a liquid inlet guide adapted to place said beater and impeller in communication with a ,body of relatively volatile liquid, said guide having an inlet terminal located at a first elevation, means defining a separate vapor return guide having an inlet in communication withthe periphery of said vapor heater and having an outlet located at a second elevation above said first elevation in communication with the saidbody of liquid, said means being efiective to prevent said separated vapor from re-entering the incoming liquid stream being introduced at said first elevation.

7. In a centrifugal pump arrangement, including means defining a pump housing having a coaxial inlet and a peripheral outlet, means defining a centriiugalimpeiler received in coaxial relation with said inlet, means defining a vapor beater located coaxially ahead of said impeller and mounted thereon for rotation therewith effective to beat out vapor from incoming rela tively volatile liquid before said liquid reaches 0 said impeller; means defining a liquid inlet guide tion including means defining a liquid inlet path to said ,throat, said path-defining means com prising an inlet terminal located at a first elevation, means defining a, vapor return path including an annular chamber surrounding and having an inletopenlng in communication with the radial extremities of said vapor beater, means defining a. conduit having the inlet terminal thereof in communication with said annular chamber and having an outlet terminal disposed at a second elevation above said first elevationfor releasing said separated vapor into communication with said body of fuel at a position where the same will not tend to reenter the stream 59 leading to said beater and impeller, said inlet guide having an inlet terminal disposed at a first elevation; means defining a vapor return guide including an inlet disposed in communication with the radial peripheryof said beater, a plurality Ofgenerally coaxially extending conduits having outlet terminals located at a second elevation above said first named elevation a partb.

tion extending transversely oi. the general axis of rotation of said beatenand impeller having' openings therethrough for communication with, the outlet terminals or said conduits, saldjpflrfltion having an out-tumed annular flange about the periphery thereof, ascreen supported by said carried by said inlet guide.

flan e and a screen JAWS A. COMPTON. 

